HRMC recognizes January 2022 Exceptional Employee

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HURON — Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) recognized its January Exceptional Employee of the Month, Rod Bender, with a department reception earlier this month.

Bender, who has worked at HRMC for nearly 33 years and was recently named the interim director of facilities was nominated by coworkers. “Friendly, accountable and genuine are words that describe Rod as he has responded to the many tasks, many of which are urgent as he comes into work each day,” according to the nomination.

“Rod is knowledgeable about all facets of HRMC facilities from his many years of dedication and remains cool, calm and collected when things may not go as planned,” the nomination continued. “In addition, he’s always willing to step up to the plate, no matter the challenge, working hard to keep everyone on track and get things done.”

HRMC’s Exceptional Employee of the Month award recognizes an employee who goes above and beyond to demonstrate the hospital’s values of being accessible, helpful and knowledgeable. Employees can be nominated by other coworkers or by a patient or visitor who witnesses exceptional service. A committee of employees from various hospital departments chooses the employee on a monthly basis and an Exceptional Employee of the Year is chosen at year-end from the 12 monthly honorees.

As January exceptional employee, Bender, who also received exceptional employee of the month honor July 1996, received a meal certificate to a local restaurant, a professional photo session and portrait, $50, a lapel pin and a special parking place for a month.

Bender joined the HRMC facilities team in 1989 and has grown in his abilities and roles throughout his career. Prior to working at HRMC, he worked for Kuhns Plumbing and Culligan in Huron.

He and his wife, Crystal, who also works at HRMC as director of patient access, have two grown children and four grandsons: Adam who is married to Amanda and they have four sons, Conner, Eain, Remington and Marshall who live in Lead; and Allison of Pierre. He enjoys woodworking, cabinet building, hunting and hobby farming.

Patients or visitors can nominate an exceptional employee by calling 605-353-6539 for a nomination form or via e-mail at hr@huronregional.org.